Tristan Kromer
@trikro.bsky.social
I tweet on innovation at scale. 37 accelerators, 6 govs, 11 unis, 3 non-profits, 24 1B+ corps Newsletter: http://kromatic.com/news Free tools: http://kromatic.com/toolkit
Good prioritization is simple: focus where uncertainty is high and impact is big. Everything else can wait.
buff.ly/Pm0iUFp
#Prioritization #LeanStartup #ProductStrategy #StartupLife
buff.ly/Pm0iUFp
#Prioritization #LeanStartup #ProductStrategy #StartupLife
Guest Post: 5-Steps to Lean Startup Prioritization That Actually Works
Lean startup prioritization: a good idea that even though on paper makes sense, in real life it’s creating more hustle than it solves.
kromatic.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Good prioritization is simple: focus where uncertainty is high and impact is big. Everything else can wait.
buff.ly/Pm0iUFp
#Prioritization #LeanStartup #ProductStrategy #StartupLife
buff.ly/Pm0iUFp
#Prioritization #LeanStartup #ProductStrategy #StartupLife
You don’t always need large samples to start learning. Even with a small group — if you test intentionally and interpret with care — you can still verify assumptions and move forward.
Small-sample checks = early insights. Validate early, build smart.
buff.ly/EcLpOSM
#LeanStartup #Experimentation
Small-sample checks = early insights. Validate early, build smart.
buff.ly/EcLpOSM
#LeanStartup #Experimentation
How Many Customer Interviews are Enough to Verify Your Assumptions
How many customer interviews are required to test unproven assumptions? Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the founder.
kromatic.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
You don’t always need large samples to start learning. Even with a small group — if you test intentionally and interpret with care — you can still verify assumptions and move forward.
Small-sample checks = early insights. Validate early, build smart.
buff.ly/EcLpOSM
#LeanStartup #Experimentation
Small-sample checks = early insights. Validate early, build smart.
buff.ly/EcLpOSM
#LeanStartup #Experimentation
A great investor pitch isn’t big visions — it’s real learnings. Show what you’ve tested, not what you’re guessing.
buff.ly/4QxmNSc
#LeanStartup #StartupLife #BuildMeasureLearn
buff.ly/4QxmNSc
#LeanStartup #StartupLife #BuildMeasureLearn
Guest Post: A Lean Startup Pitch to Investors
If you are a Lean Startup practitioner, your Lean Startup mindset should also to some extent carry over when lean startup pitch to investors.
kromatic.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:03 PM
A great investor pitch isn’t big visions — it’s real learnings. Show what you’ve tested, not what you’re guessing.
buff.ly/4QxmNSc
#LeanStartup #StartupLife #BuildMeasureLearn
buff.ly/4QxmNSc
#LeanStartup #StartupLife #BuildMeasureLearn
🎣 Collecting leads isn’t the same as finding customers. A bowl full of business cards means nothing if no one’s truly interested.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VzTfzHI
#LeadGeneration #Sales #StartupLessons #CustomerDiscovery
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VzTfzHI
#LeadGeneration #Sales #StartupLessons #CustomerDiscovery
Business Card Fishbowl Leads = Sales Leads
Startups do not have the time or the budget to waste trying to filter through hundreds of cards from business card fishbowl.
kromatic.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
🎣 Collecting leads isn’t the same as finding customers. A bowl full of business cards means nothing if no one’s truly interested.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VzTfzHI
#LeadGeneration #Sales #StartupLessons #CustomerDiscovery
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VzTfzHI
#LeadGeneration #Sales #StartupLessons #CustomerDiscovery
Reposted by Tristan Kromer
Strategy is a set of hypotheses. Build adaptive strategy into your process.
kromatic.com/blog/adaptiv...
by @trikro.bsky.social and Susie Braam #prodmgmt
kromatic.com/blog/adaptiv...
by @trikro.bsky.social and Susie Braam #prodmgmt
Adaptive Strategy – Kromatic Blog
Even the best-laid plans need to adapt and evolve to developing circumstances, by building agility into how we conceive and implement adaptive strategy in the first place.
kromatic.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Strategy is a set of hypotheses. Build adaptive strategy into your process.
kromatic.com/blog/adaptiv...
by @trikro.bsky.social and Susie Braam #prodmgmt
kromatic.com/blog/adaptiv...
by @trikro.bsky.social and Susie Braam #prodmgmt
Great to appear on the Glaringly Obvious podcast with with Brian Zmijewski
Glaringly Obvious with Tristan Kromer
Podcast Interview: Keep experiments focused and easy to evaluate
glare.helio.app
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Great to appear on the Glaringly Obvious podcast with with Brian Zmijewski
Expectations in innovation aren’t just tall—they can kill momentum. When we build according to someone else’s vision instead of real user feedback, we risk losing traction, wasting resources, and missing true market fit.
👉 Read more: buff.ly/lbBUfcV
#Innovation #StartupStrategy #LeanStartup
👉 Read more: buff.ly/lbBUfcV
#Innovation #StartupStrategy #LeanStartup
Observer-Expectancy Effect - Customer Development & UX
We experience observer-expectancy effect on a daily basis. Building truly remarkable products requires moving beyond the basics of customer development.
kromatic.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Expectations in innovation aren’t just tall—they can kill momentum. When we build according to someone else’s vision instead of real user feedback, we risk losing traction, wasting resources, and missing true market fit.
👉 Read more: buff.ly/lbBUfcV
#Innovation #StartupStrategy #LeanStartup
👉 Read more: buff.ly/lbBUfcV
#Innovation #StartupStrategy #LeanStartup
Focusing on perfect direction before forward motion? That’s the “rudder fallacy.” The rudder doesn’t work unless you’re already rowing. Start with velocity—learning and testing—before you worry about direction. 👉 buff.ly/6sWIsEr
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset #BuildMeasureLearn
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset #BuildMeasureLearn
The Rudder Fallacy - Adopting Lean Startup Principles – Kromatic Blog
Velocity gets slower and slower and sooner or later the team starts complaining that lean transformation isn't helping them learn anything.
kromatic.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Focusing on perfect direction before forward motion? That’s the “rudder fallacy.” The rudder doesn’t work unless you’re already rowing. Start with velocity—learning and testing—before you worry about direction. 👉 buff.ly/6sWIsEr
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset #BuildMeasureLearn
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset #BuildMeasureLearn
The greatest risk in product development isn’t just building slowly—it’s building the wrong thing. When your development cycle drags on and you’re still chasing assumptions, you’re not just wasting time—you’re stacking risk.
👉
👉
Product Development Life Cycle - The Risk of Building the Wrong Stuff
Since the only point at which we realize we built the wrong thing is at the end of our super long product development life cycle and PR blitzkrieg launch.
kromatic.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The greatest risk in product development isn’t just building slowly—it’s building the wrong thing. When your development cycle drags on and you’re still chasing assumptions, you’re not just wasting time—you’re stacking risk.
👉
👉
The classic Build → Measure → Learn loop is backward. Start with what you want to learn → then decide what data you need → then design your test. Reverse the order to get smarter faster.
👉 buff.ly/xyHtCQT
#LeanStartup #ExperimentDesign #LearningFirst #Innovation #BuildMeasureLearn
👉 buff.ly/xyHtCQT
#LeanStartup #ExperimentDesign #LearningFirst #Innovation #BuildMeasureLearn
Build Measure Learn - Why The Lean Startup Loop is Backwards
The Build-Measure-Learn (BML) loop is the most fundamental concept of the Lean Startup. And it's completely backwards.. To do it right, start with Learn.
kromatic.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The classic Build → Measure → Learn loop is backward. Start with what you want to learn → then decide what data you need → then design your test. Reverse the order to get smarter faster.
👉 buff.ly/xyHtCQT
#LeanStartup #ExperimentDesign #LearningFirst #Innovation #BuildMeasureLearn
👉 buff.ly/xyHtCQT
#LeanStartup #ExperimentDesign #LearningFirst #Innovation #BuildMeasureLearn
A product alone won’t save you. What matters more is the founding team. 👥
Find people who are committed not just to an idea, but to the journey—through pivots, scrappy work, and all the ugly learning.
👉 buff.ly/gZGWuAc
#StartupTeam #Founders #LeanStartup #Commitment #InnovationCulture
Find people who are committed not just to an idea, but to the journey—through pivots, scrappy work, and all the ugly learning.
👉 buff.ly/gZGWuAc
#StartupTeam #Founders #LeanStartup #Commitment #InnovationCulture
Minimum Viable Founding Team > Minimum Viable Product
You need a co-founder for founding team that's committed to the cause — and committed to you. They're committed to the company, not just the current idea.
kromatic.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
A product alone won’t save you. What matters more is the founding team. 👥
Find people who are committed not just to an idea, but to the journey—through pivots, scrappy work, and all the ugly learning.
👉 buff.ly/gZGWuAc
#StartupTeam #Founders #LeanStartup #Commitment #InnovationCulture
Find people who are committed not just to an idea, but to the journey—through pivots, scrappy work, and all the ugly learning.
👉 buff.ly/gZGWuAc
#StartupTeam #Founders #LeanStartup #Commitment #InnovationCulture
Three lean startup principles worth building into your daily work:
1. Ship tiny experiments → get real feedback fast
2. Learn from failure — it’s more useful than success
3. Be curious, not certain — always question assumptions
👉 buff.ly/qqSRv3I
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset
1. Ship tiny experiments → get real feedback fast
2. Learn from failure — it’s more useful than success
3. Be curious, not certain — always question assumptions
👉 buff.ly/qqSRv3I
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset
Three Lean Transformation to Live By
There are a few lean transformation principles that everyone agrees on: 1) "I don't know" 2) Learn about your customers 3) Talk to your customers
kromatic.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Three lean startup principles worth building into your daily work:
1. Ship tiny experiments → get real feedback fast
2. Learn from failure — it’s more useful than success
3. Be curious, not certain — always question assumptions
👉 buff.ly/qqSRv3I
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset
1. Ship tiny experiments → get real feedback fast
2. Learn from failure — it’s more useful than success
3. Be curious, not certain — always question assumptions
👉 buff.ly/qqSRv3I
#LeanStartup #Experimentation #StartupMindset
Don’t just build — fake it first.
A Wizard of Oz prototype lets you do the “hard work behind the scenes” manually to test demand before you build.
👉 buff.ly/tBUSQBp
#WizardOfOz #Prototype #LeanStartup #MVP #Experimentation #CustomerValidation
A Wizard of Oz prototype lets you do the “hard work behind the scenes” manually to test demand before you build.
👉 buff.ly/tBUSQBp
#WizardOfOz #Prototype #LeanStartup #MVP #Experimentation #CustomerValidation
Wizard of Oz Prototype Example to Improve The User Experience
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain- Wizard of Oz Prototype Example....Wow! I'm tired.Tired and energized.Do you need to get more basic?
kromatic.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Don’t just build — fake it first.
A Wizard of Oz prototype lets you do the “hard work behind the scenes” manually to test demand before you build.
👉 buff.ly/tBUSQBp
#WizardOfOz #Prototype #LeanStartup #MVP #Experimentation #CustomerValidation
A Wizard of Oz prototype lets you do the “hard work behind the scenes” manually to test demand before you build.
👉 buff.ly/tBUSQBp
#WizardOfOz #Prototype #LeanStartup #MVP #Experimentation #CustomerValidation
Tough economy = opportunity. When the economy dips: fewer competitors, lower costs, talent becomes available, and necessity forces creativity. It’s not just survival – it can be a launchpad.
👉 buff.ly/xwkfTcY
#Entrepreneurship #DownturnOpportunity #LeanStartup #Innovation #BadEconomy
👉 buff.ly/xwkfTcY
#Entrepreneurship #DownturnOpportunity #LeanStartup #Innovation #BadEconomy
Innovation Investment - Bad Economies are Great for Business
Small budgets equal smart innovation investment. If you only have a little money to spend, you have to focus on the important aspects of your business.
kromatic.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Tough economy = opportunity. When the economy dips: fewer competitors, lower costs, talent becomes available, and necessity forces creativity. It’s not just survival – it can be a launchpad.
👉 buff.ly/xwkfTcY
#Entrepreneurship #DownturnOpportunity #LeanStartup #Innovation #BadEconomy
👉 buff.ly/xwkfTcY
#Entrepreneurship #DownturnOpportunity #LeanStartup #Innovation #BadEconomy
When juniors mentor seniors, growth happens both ways. Reverse mentoring closes the generation gap, builds empathy, and keeps executives digitally fluent.
👉 buff.ly/0gUztnR
#ReverseMentoring #Leadership #InnovationCulture #DigitalFluency #IntergenerationalLearning
👉 buff.ly/0gUztnR
#ReverseMentoring #Leadership #InnovationCulture #DigitalFluency #IntergenerationalLearning
Reverse Mentoring: What Millennials Can Teach Executives and Managers
Reverse mentoring involves the pairing of employees from different generations who can offer unique experiences and perspectives to their partner.
kromatic.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
When juniors mentor seniors, growth happens both ways. Reverse mentoring closes the generation gap, builds empathy, and keeps executives digitally fluent.
👉 buff.ly/0gUztnR
#ReverseMentoring #Leadership #InnovationCulture #DigitalFluency #IntergenerationalLearning
👉 buff.ly/0gUztnR
#ReverseMentoring #Leadership #InnovationCulture #DigitalFluency #IntergenerationalLearning
Experiment velocity isn’t proof of progress—it’s often a vanity metric. 🧪
More experiments ≠ better experiments. Focus on learning velocity: outcomes that challenge assumptions, not just activity.
👉 buff.ly/nz96XYR
#InnovationMetrics #ExperimentVelocity #LearningVelocity #LeanStartup
More experiments ≠ better experiments. Focus on learning velocity: outcomes that challenge assumptions, not just activity.
👉 buff.ly/nz96XYR
#InnovationMetrics #ExperimentVelocity #LearningVelocity #LeanStartup
kromatic.com
September 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Experiment velocity isn’t proof of progress—it’s often a vanity metric. 🧪
More experiments ≠ better experiments. Focus on learning velocity: outcomes that challenge assumptions, not just activity.
👉 buff.ly/nz96XYR
#InnovationMetrics #ExperimentVelocity #LearningVelocity #LeanStartup
More experiments ≠ better experiments. Focus on learning velocity: outcomes that challenge assumptions, not just activity.
👉 buff.ly/nz96XYR
#InnovationMetrics #ExperimentVelocity #LearningVelocity #LeanStartup
Meritocracy? Not quite. Even “fair” systems tilt the field—because real merit is shaped by bias, privilege, and luck.
It’s time to rethink how we value and reward talent.
👉 buff.ly/XHFHrCW
#Meritocracy #Equity #Innovation #Diversity #BiasAwareness
It’s time to rethink how we value and reward talent.
👉 buff.ly/XHFHrCW
#Meritocracy #Equity #Innovation #Diversity #BiasAwareness
Why Meritocracy Doesn’t Work – Kromatic Blog
Anti-diversity proponents say that meritocracy justifies the lack of diversity in tech. But the real question is: Does meritocracy work?
kromatic.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Meritocracy? Not quite. Even “fair” systems tilt the field—because real merit is shaped by bias, privilege, and luck.
It’s time to rethink how we value and reward talent.
👉 buff.ly/XHFHrCW
#Meritocracy #Equity #Innovation #Diversity #BiasAwareness
It’s time to rethink how we value and reward talent.
👉 buff.ly/XHFHrCW
#Meritocracy #Equity #Innovation #Diversity #BiasAwareness
A strategy to innovate ≠ an innovation strategy.
The former is surface-level activity. The latter is a long-term decision framework—defining where to invest, what options to build, and which capabilities to grow—to generate choices under uncertainty.
👉 Read more: buff.ly/3ZjCj16
#Innovation
The former is surface-level activity. The latter is a long-term decision framework—defining where to invest, what options to build, and which capabilities to grow—to generate choices under uncertainty.
👉 Read more: buff.ly/3ZjCj16
#Innovation
Strategy of Innovation vs. Innovation Strategy
“Go Innovate” is not a strategy and neither are stage gates. A complete innovation strategy should tell us where, how, and why we innovate.
kromatic.com
September 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
A strategy to innovate ≠ an innovation strategy.
The former is surface-level activity. The latter is a long-term decision framework—defining where to invest, what options to build, and which capabilities to grow—to generate choices under uncertainty.
👉 Read more: buff.ly/3ZjCj16
#Innovation
The former is surface-level activity. The latter is a long-term decision framework—defining where to invest, what options to build, and which capabilities to grow—to generate choices under uncertainty.
👉 Read more: buff.ly/3ZjCj16
#Innovation
Most innovation training fails. Why? Because skills alone don’t stick without strategy, process, and support.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VtD0SX1
#Innovation #Leadership #Strategy #InnovationTraining
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VtD0SX1
#Innovation #Leadership #Strategy #InnovationTraining
Skillset and mindset training must be integrated into a complete innovation stack to have any chance of delivering real impact.
Innovation teams have relied on workshops and culture change to drive outcomes. But skill and mindset training alone won’t achieve results. We must drive data flow through the entire organization to…
kromatic.com
September 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Most innovation training fails. Why? Because skills alone don’t stick without strategy, process, and support.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VtD0SX1
#Innovation #Leadership #Strategy #InnovationTraining
Read more 👉 buff.ly/VtD0SX1
#Innovation #Leadership #Strategy #InnovationTraining
What if your innovation process could predict success like your finance team predicts revenue?
Tomorrow, Aug 28, I’ll explore that at Innov8rs AI Fest.
AI-powered forecasting, without the fluff.
👥 Corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
Tomorrow, Aug 28, I’ll explore that at Innov8rs AI Fest.
AI-powered forecasting, without the fluff.
👥 Corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
August 27, 2025 at 11:12 PM
What if your innovation process could predict success like your finance team predicts revenue?
Tomorrow, Aug 28, I’ll explore that at Innov8rs AI Fest.
AI-powered forecasting, without the fluff.
👥 Corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
Tomorrow, Aug 28, I’ll explore that at Innov8rs AI Fest.
AI-powered forecasting, without the fluff.
👥 Corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
Innovation isn’t about guessing.
On Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest, I’ll walk through how to use AI to forecast ROI, kill bad ideas early, and fund what works.
Live session. No hype.
Corporate innovators only.
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #SmarterDecisions
On Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest, I’ll walk through how to use AI to forecast ROI, kill bad ideas early, and fund what works.
Live session. No hype.
Corporate innovators only.
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #SmarterDecisions
August 24, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Innovation isn’t about guessing.
On Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest, I’ll walk through how to use AI to forecast ROI, kill bad ideas early, and fund what works.
Live session. No hype.
Corporate innovators only.
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #SmarterDecisions
On Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest, I’ll walk through how to use AI to forecast ROI, kill bad ideas early, and fund what works.
Live session. No hype.
Corporate innovators only.
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #SmarterDecisions
Sick of funding decisions based on politics or gut feel?
Join me Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest.
I’ll share how AI can help fix innovation governance—so the right projects get the green light.
👥 For corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
Join me Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest.
I’ll share how AI can help fix innovation governance—so the right projects get the green light.
👥 For corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
August 22, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Sick of funding decisions based on politics or gut feel?
Join me Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest.
I’ll share how AI can help fix innovation governance—so the right projects get the green light.
👥 For corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
Join me Aug 28 at Innov8rs AI Fest.
I’ll share how AI can help fix innovation governance—so the right projects get the green light.
👥 For corporate innovators only
🔗 buff.ly/uGT6OjX
#AIFest2025 #Innovation #AI #Governance
